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Basic concepts of electric circuits 11

The concept of voltage works on the principle of a water gun. The trigger
of a water gun is attached to a pump that squirts water out of a tiny hole at
the muzzle. If there is no pressure from the gun (the trigger is not pressed),
there will be no water out of the muzzle. Low-pressure squirting produces thin
streams of water over a short distance, while high pressure produces a very
powerful stream over a longer distance.
Just as water pressure is required for a water gun or water circuit, electric
pressure or voltage is required for an electric circuit. Voltage is responsible for
the pushing and pulling of electrons or current through an electric circuit. The
higher the voltage, the greater the current will be.
Let us further analyse the voltage by using the previous flashlight or torch
circuit in Figure 1.2. If only a small lamp is connected with wires without a
battery in this circuit, the flashlight will not work. Since electric charges in the
wire (conductor) randomly drift in different directions, a current cannot form in
a specific direction. Once the battery is connected to the load (lamp) by wires, the
positive electrode of the battery attracts the negative charges (electrons), and the
negative electrode of the battery repels the electrons. This causes the electrons to
flow in one direction and produce electric current in the circuit.
The battery is one example of a voltage source that produces electromotive
force (EMF) between its two terminals. When EMF is exerted on a circuit, it
moves electrons around the circuit or causes current to flow through the circuit
since EMF is actually the electron-moving force. It is the electric pressure or
force that is supplied by a voltage source, which causes current to flow in a
circuit. EMF produced by a voltage source is analogous to water pressure
produced by a pump in a water circuit.
Voltage is symbolized by V (italic letter), and its unit is volts (non-italic
letter V). EMF is symbolized by E, and its unit is also volts (V).

Electromotive force (EMF)


EMF is an electric pressure or force that is supplied by a voltage source,
which causes electric current to flow in a circuit.

1.4.2 Potential difference/voltage


Assuming there are two water tanks A and B, water will flow from tank A to B
only when tank A has a higher water level than tank B, as shown in Figure 1.7.

A B

Figure 1.7 Water-level difference

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